BACKGROUND: Muscular imbalance due to tightness or weakness of the muscles of the upper limbs reduces joint range of motion, changes biomechanical patterns, decreases the efficiency of force production, and increases the chance of injuries to the musculoskeletal system in athletes. This study was pursued as there is paucity of literature understanding the relationship between hand dominance and shoulder girdle muscle length in athletes. AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: To evaluate if there is any relationship between hand dominance and shoulder girdle muscle length in athletes. MATERIALS AND METHODS: An Exploratory Study was done on 60 athletes between the age group of 18-25 years who were recruited from various sports clubs and organizations in Belgaum, Karnataka. Kendall's Muscle Length Testing techniques were used to measure the length of the shoulder girdle muscles. RESULTS: The results of the study demonstrated that there is significant difference of shoulder girdle muscle length in dominant and non-dominant hand. Athletes playing overhead sports showed tight lateral rotators of the dominant hand when compared to non-dominant hand. Those playing contact sports and athletics showed tight rhomboids of both dominant and non-dominant hand and tight lateral rotators of both hands. CONCLUSION: There exists a relationship between hand dominance and shoulder girdle muscle length in athletes.

Purpose. Kicking, jumping and agility are important skills in football. These activities require adequate lower limb strength, which can be enhanced with resistance training. The objective of the study was to evaluate the effect of resistance tube exercises on kicking accuracy, vertical jump performance and 40-yard technical test results in competitive football players. Methods. The study involved 23 competitive football players (11 males, 12 females) aged from 18-20 years recruited from three different universities in Belgaum, Karnataka, India. Back heel kick accuracy, vertical jump height and 40-yard technical test time were evaluated before and after a 2-week resistance tube exercise program. Results. Significant improvements in post-intervention kicking accuracy were found when males and females were treated as a single group (p = 0.01). Vertical jump height also showed a highly significant post-intervention improvement in the males and for the combined group of males and females (p = 0.001). The 40-yard technical test values significantly improved in the females and in the combined results for males and females (p = 0.001). Conclusions. The two-week resistance tube exercise program was found to have an effect on kicking accuracy, vertical jump height and 40-yard technical test performance in competitive football players. resistance tube exercises can thus be included as a component of a regular strength training program for such athletes.